What's Not Said by Valerie Taylor

Author:Valerie Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press
Published: 2020-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

23

Reality Bites

“Can you find your way back, Mr. Ricci? I’m heading over to the cafeteria. It’s lunchtime, ya know.”

Mike assured Celia he was good. And he was. She hadn’t said who the visitor was, nor did he ask. He assumed it was Kassie. She must’ve had a change of heart. It’s Easter after all. Maybe they could resurrect their marriage. He was game.

“Happy Easter,” Mike greeted a family on the way to the elevator. The fellow carried a huge basket of fruit so big it blocked his sight, almost bumping into Mike. A little boy hung on tight to a yellow teddy bear. “Excuse me,” Mike said, scooting around them and patting the boy on the head.

Mike collided with a short elderly woman wearing a full-length tweed coat with a pink chrysanthemum in her lapel. He almost knocked her and her walker over as she tried to maneuver into the elevator while balancing an overstuffed green Whole Foods tote bag slung over her shoulder.

“Do you need help?” Mike said as he rescued the tote bag before it crashed to the floor. His nose hairs tickled. The smell of garlic almost made him sneeze.

She snickered, taking him up on his offer as she shoved the walker toward him. “Where you going in your jammies, sonny? Escaping?”

“No, ma’am. On my own Easter parade, I guess. Have a nice day now, ya hear?” Mike said as he got off the first stop.

The super-sized bunny still held court near the elevator but looked a little haggard as he’d slumped to one side. His bow was untied and someone had put a blue Red Sox cap over one ear.

“Having a hard day, dude?” Mike petted the stuffed animal and shifted his attention to the wicker basket. Oh, goodie! It wasn’t empty, yet. Mike snuck one miniature Mr. Goodbar and then dove in for a second. Instead he pulled out dark chocolate. Damn it. Not his favorite. He’d take it for Kassie. A peace offering.

“Ya know that guy loitering near the elevator?” Mike said to a nurse as he passed her station. “He needs a little TLC. I think he’s seen better days.”

“Sounds like you’re in better spirits, Mr. Ricci. Walk seems to have done you some good. You have a visitor,” she said her eyes pointing down the hall.

“I know.” Mike beamed and quickened his shuffle.

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